Convertible heating element



Nov. 8, 1949 c. s. SIMPELAAR CONVERTIBLE HEATING ELEMENT Filed Aug. 13, i945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV- 8, 1949 c. s. slMPELAAR 2,487,434

CONVERTIBLE HEATING ELEMENT Filed Aug. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 Clyde S.

Simpelaar, Racine, Wis., assignor to Modine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation oi Wisconsin Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,434

8 Claims. (Cl. 257-159) This invention relates to a convertible heating element commonly used in connection with convection heaters, and its principal object is the provision of means to convert a heating element through which streams of fluid flow in parallel relation through several tubes, into a heating element in which the streams flow in series through the same tubes.

Another object is the provisin of a heating element composed of several tubes connected to headers or tanks, with means associated with said headers or tanks whereby to cause fluid to flow through said tubes in series.

...`Another object is the provision of removable and replaceable sleeves in conjunction with the headers whereby the ilow through the tubes may be converted from parallel streams to streams that iiow in series through the several tubes.

With these and other objects and advantages in-view, this invention consists in the several novel features vof construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and more particularly dened in the appended claims.

v The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this speciflcation, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section through a convertible heating element embodyingv a simple form of the invention, part of the heating element being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vew partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of the heating element partly broken away, in which the flow converting means has been removed;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of a modified form of sleeve;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of a modied form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is avertical section taken on the line I shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

- Referring to said drawing, and first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the reference character I0 designates an inlet header, and II an outlet header of a. convertible 'heating element employing a 2 simple embodiment of the present invention. Each header contains a cylindrical chamber I2, the walls of which are threaded at one end for the reception of supply and discharge pipes, respectively, indicated by IS-'IL These walls are also threaded at the other end for the reception of plugs indicated respectively at IB-IS.

Connecting the headers are iluid conducting tubes Il, I8, I9 on which are strung iins 20 as is customary. The tubes extendl in parallel relation with each other, with the tube Il extending between oppositely disposed ports 2|, 2Ia in the walls of the headers, and the tubes I8, I9 being disposed laterally of the headers and being formed with elbow bends 22, 23 at their ends, which elbow bends enter ports 24 25, 26, 2l formed in the walls of the headers, two ports of each header being disposed diametrically opposite each other and at degrees apart from the ports 2l, 2Ia, respectively. The'tubes may be brazed to the headers or secured thereto in any other approved manner.

Removably and replaceably held in the headers are sleeves 28, 29 for converting a heating element from one in which the flow from the inletheader to the outlet header is through parallel paths, into a heating element in which the flow from the inlet header to the outlet header is in series through said tubes.

When the heatingelement is used without the sleeves 28, 29, the flow of the heating medium is along parallel paths as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3.

To convert the heating element into one in which the flow of the heating medium is through the tubes in series, the sleeves 28, 29 are employed. These sleeves may be formed integrally with the plugs or they may be welded thereto or they may be made separate therefrom, whichever is found most desirable. When made separate from the plugs the sleeves, one of which is seen in Fig. 4 at 28a, may be secured in the headers by a driving t, or they may be pinned or keyed thereto. The sleeves are formed with ports to direct the heating medium through the tubes so as to ilow therethrough in series. The sleeve 28 is formed with ports 39, 80, 3| which register with the ports 2|, 244 and 25, respectively, and the port 39 establishes a communication between the interior of the sleeve 28 and the tube Il. A by-pass or passageway, such as a tube 32, connects the ports 30, 3| and establishes communicationfbetween the tubes I8 and I9.

The sleeve 29 is formed with po 84, 35 which ,register respectively with the ports 2Ia, 26

3 and 2l of the outlet header, and a by-pass or passageway, such as an elbow tube 36, is provided between the ports 33 and 34, which elbow tube establishes communication between the tubes Il and I8. The port 35 establishes communication between the tube I 9 and the interior of the sleeve 29.

When the heating element is equipped with the sleeves, the flow through the tubes is in series as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. The heating medium then enters the inlet header from the supply pipe I3, flows through the ports 39, 2| into and through the tube I1, thence through the ports 2Ia, 33 and through the elbow 38 and through the ports 34, 26 to and through the tube I8, and thence through the ports 24, 30, tube 32, ports 3|, 25, to and through the tube I9, and thence through the ports 21, 35 into the interior of the sleeve 29, and out through the outlet pipe I4.

When the sleeves are omitted from the headers, the heatinguid enters the inlet header as above described, then flows through the several tubes in parallel streams (see Fig. 3) to and through the outlet header and discharges through the outlet pipe. This form of heating element is used principally when steam is employed as the heating medium, and the series flow heating element is employed when hot water is employed as the heating medium.

While the inlet and outlet pipes are shown as entering the headers at the lower ends thereof, they may enter the upper ends of the headers and the plugs are then used at the lower ends of the headers to close the open ends thereof.

In the modied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the headers Illa, IIa may be of the same form and construction as the headers of the form of the invention previously described. In this case the inlet pipe I3a enters the header Ia at its upper end and the discharge pipe I4a enters the header at its lower end. Two or more tubes la, laa, 22a, 23a enter the side walls of the two headers and connect them.

In the header Illa is secured a sleeve 28a having ports 39a which register with adjacent ends of the tubes 'Ia,' laa. said sleeve having also ports 30a, 3Ia which register with adjacent ends of the tubes 22a, 23a. A cross wall or partition 28a: extends through the sleeve from a point above the ports 39a to the opposite side of the sleeve at a point below the ports 30a, 3Ia, thereby dividing the sleeve into two unconnected chambers or passageways 40, 4I. The inlet pipe I3a opens to the chamber or passageway 40 and the discharge pipe I4a opens from the chamber or passageway 4I.

In the header I Ia is secured a sleeve 29a which is formed with or provided with elbows 36a, 36aa which respectively connect the adjacent ends of the tubes 22a and 1a and the adjacent ends of the tubes laa, 23a.

With the sleeves present in the headers the now of the iluid is from the chamber or passageway 40 through the two tubes 22a, 23a, through the elbows 36a, 36aa and back to the header Illa, through the tubes la, Iaa and into the chamber or passageway 4I and out through the discharge pipe I4a, the flow being through two sets of series connected tubes as shown by the arrows in Figs. 5 and 6.

To convert the heating element into a parallel flow element the sleeves are omitted. The flow through all of the tubes is then in one direction from the inlet header to the outlet header. The discharge pipe I4a is omitted from the header Illa, screwed into one end of the header IIa; a

plug similar to the plug I5 is screwed into the open end of the header Illa and a similar plug is screwed into the open end of the header I Ia.

In the modied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, the headers, tubes and sleeve 29a may take the same form and arrangement as in the modified form seen in Figs. 5 and 6, but the sleeve 28h in the header Illa is of a diierent construction and provides for a series flow of the fluid through the several tubes as shown by the arrows in Fig. 7.

The sleeve is divided by three radially extending walls or partitions 282 into threev chambers or passageways 40a, 40h, 4 Ia which communicate respectively with the tubes 22a, 1a, 'Iaa and 23a. The top of the sleeve 28h over the chamber or passageway 40a is open whereby the fluid may enter the chamber or passageway 40a from the inlet pipe which is screwed into the upper end of the header Ina. The other two chambers or passageways 40h, 4I a are closed at their upper ends by a wall 42 and the lower ends of the chambers or passageways 40a, 40h are closed by a 'wall 43. 'I'he lower end of the chamber or passageway 4 la is open whereby the uid may discharge through the discharge `pipe which ls screwed into the lower end of the header Illa.

To convert this second modied form of the invention into a. parallel ow element, the sleeves are omitted from the headers Illa, IIb, the discharge pipe I 4a is omitted and screwed into one,r

end of the header IIb, and plugs I5 are screwed into the open ends of both headers.

'I'he ilow is then from the inlet pipe into the header Illa and through all of the tubes, into the header I Ib, from which it discharges through the discharge pipe.

It will be seen, in each modied an inlet header therefore, that the header Iba form of the invention serves as and outlet header when the sleeves are used for causing series flow in the tubes. Obviously uns may be applied to the tubes as in the rst form described.

From the above it is apparent that I have provided a heating element which may be readily converted from a parallel iiow heating element to a series ilow heating element. y

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A heating element comprising an inlet header and an outlet header connected by several iluid conducting tubes, one of the tubes extendingr 1n a straight line from header to header and the rection at right angles to the rst mentioned tube, removable and replaceable sleeves one in each header, each of said sleeves having ports opening to the tubes connected to the header in which the sleeve is used, one of the sleeves having to the inlet header and a return pipe connected to the outlet header.

2. In a heat exchanger, a header member havy ing a cylindrical bore therein, a plurality of tubes having their corresponding ends secured to the header member and individually communicating with'the bore therein, the axes of said ends of the tubes extending substantially radially with respect to the axis of said bore, and circumferentially spaced around the latter, ,and a sleeve removably positioned in said bore and having its outer side wall complementary to and engaging the side wall of said bore in fixed relation to the latter, said sleeve defining a fluid port for the heat exchanger communicating said bore with certain of said tubes and having a partition wall therein extending between circumferentially spaced tube ends, and providing a passageway between said tubes, said partition wall sealing said connected tube ends from other of said tube ends and from the fluid port defined by said sleeve.

3. In a heat exchanger, a pair of spaced header members, each having a cylindrical bore therein, a plurality of tubes extending between and having their corresponding ends secured tothe respective header members and individually communicating with the respective bores therein whereby the tubes' are connected in parallel therebetween, the axes of the corresponding ends of the tubes extending substantially radially with respect to the axes of the respective bores and circumferentially spaced around the latter, and a 'pair of sleeves, .each of which is removably positioned in a respective bore and has its outer side wall complementary to and engaging the side wall of such bore in fixed relation to the latter, said sleeves defining the fluid inlet and outlet for the heat exchanger and communicating said bore with certain of said tubes and having partition walls therein extending between circumferentially spaced tube ends, and providing a passageway between said tubes, said partition wall sealing said connected tube ends from one another whereby the fluid ow from the inlet to the outlet through certain of `said tubes is in series with the iiuid flow in the rest of said tubes.

4. In a heat exchanger, a header member having a cylindrical bore therein, three tubes having their corresponding ends secured to the header member and individually communicating with the bore therein, the axes of said ends of the tubes extending substantially radially with respect to the axis of said bore, and circumferentially spaced around the latter, and a sleeve removably positioned in said bore and having its outer side wall complementary to and engaging the side wall of said bore in fixed relation to the latter, said sleeve defining a fluid port for the heat exchanger communicating said bore with one of said tubes and havingv a partition tube therein extending between the other spaced tube ends, and providing a passageway between the latter tubes, said partition tube sealing said connected tube ends from the other tube end and from the fluid port deiined by said sleeve.

5. In a heat exchanger, a header member having a cylindrical bore therein, two pairs of tubes having their corresponding ends secured to the header member and individually communicating with the bore therein, the axes of said ends of the tubes` extending substantially radially with respect to the axis of said bore, and circumferentially spaced around the latter, and a sleeve removably positioned in said bore and having its outer side wall complementary to and engagin the side wall of said bore in xed relation to the I 6. In a heat exchanger, a header member having a cylindrical bore therein, two pairs of tubes having their corresponding ends secured to the header member and individually communicating with the bore therein, the axes of said ends of the tubes extending substantially radially with respect to the axis of said bore, and circumferentially spaced around the latter, and a sleeve removably positioned in said bore and having its outer side wall complementaryto and engaging the side wall of said bore in xed relation to the latter, each end of said sleeve dening a respective uid port for the heat exchanger communicating one end of said bore with one of said tubes and the other end of said bore with another of said tubes, said sleeve having a partition wall therein extending between the remaining tube ends, and providing a passageway between the latter tubes, said partition wall sealing the respective fluid ports and tube ends associated therewith from each other and from said connected tube ends.

7. In a heat exchanger, a pair of spaced header members, each having a cylindrical bore therein, two pairs of tubes extending between and having their corresponding ends ,secured to the respective header members and individually communicating with the respective bores therein whereby the tubes are connected in parallel therebetween, the axes of the corresponding ends of the tubes extending substantially radially with respect to the axes of the respective bores and circumferentially spaced around the latter, and a pair of sleeves, each of which is removably positioned in a respective bore and has its outer side wall complementary to and engaging the side wall of such bore in xed relation to the latter, one'of said sleeves defining the fluid inlet and outlet for the heat exchanger and communicating one end of the associated bore with one pair of said tubes and the other end of saidv bore with the other pair of tubes, said sleeve having a partition wall therein extending between circumferentially spaced tube ends, and providing passageways between the respective tubes of each pair, said partition wall sealing the tube ends of one pair and port associated therewith from the tube ends of the other pair and port associated with the latter, the other sleeve having partition walls therein connecting each of the respective tubes of one pair with a respective tube of the other pair whereby the fluid ow from the inlet to the outlet through certain of said tubes is in series with the fluid flow in the rest of said tubes.

8. In a. heat exchanger, a-pair of spaced header members, each having a cylindrical bore therein, two pairs of tubes extending between and having their corresponding ends secured toA the respective header members and individually communicating with the respective bores therein whereby the tubes are connected in parallel 7 therebetween, the axes of the corresponding ends of the tubes extending substantially radially with respect to the axes of the respective bores and circumierentially spaced around the latter, and a pair of sleeves, each of which is removably positioned in a. respective bore and has its outer side wall complementary to and engaging the side wall of such bore in fixed relation to the latter, one of said sleeves delining the uid inlet and outlet for the heat exchanger and communicating one end of the associated bore with one of said tubes and the other end of said bore with another of said tubes, said sleeve having partition walls therein extending between the remaining tube ends, and providingA a passageway between the latter pair of tubes, said partition walls sealing the respective fluid ports and tube ends associated therewith from each other and from said connected tube ends, the other sleeve having partition walls therein connecting the adjacent ends of each of said mst-mentioned tubes with a respective tube end of said pair whereby Vthe iiuid ow from the inlet to the outlet through said tubes is in series.

CLYDE' S. SIMPELAAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain May 4, 1933 

